Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent a halt on federal assistance funding. This decision aims to ensure continued access to federal funds crucial for disaster recovery, education, public health and safety, and infrastructure projects.

Bonta stated, "Today’s court order ensures our communities are able to continue to access necessary federal funding for disaster recovery, including for California's wildfire recovery efforts; education; public health and safety; and infrastructure projects." He emphasized the importance of this action by noting that despite the rescission of an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive, the administration still plans to freeze federal funding.

"The Trump Administration is intentionally creating chaos through its public actions and statements, attempting to sow fear and confusion in our communities," Bonta said. "We will not fall for this bait and switch. California has too much at stake."

The temporary restraining order prevents the Trump Administration from pausing or blocking federal financial assistance unless legally permitted. It also stops them from implementing the OMB directive under any other name or title.

The court's decision extends beyond an administrative stay previously granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in response to a lawsuit from nonprofit groups receiving federal funds.

The Trump Administration must notify all relevant agencies, employees, contractors, and grantees about this order by February 3, 2025.